"Liberal" Versus "Conservative"

“Liberal” Versus “Conservative”
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

Those who are familiar with religion and politics are accustomed to hearing people classified as either “liberal” or “conservative.” Some people are offended by the use of these terms because they are sometimes used in an insulting and derogatory way. However, this is not always true. It is possible for the terms to be used quite properly and usefully.

The word “liberal” means, “broadly construed or understood; not strictly literal or exact.” A constitutional liberal is, therefore, one who does not take a strict approach to interpreting and applying our nation’s Constitution. A religious liberal is one who does not take a strict approach to interpreting and applying the Holy Scriptures. Conversely, a conservative is one who takes the law literally, whether civil or spiritual law, and he strictly interprets and applies that law. I sometimes illustrate this point with a tape measure. The liberal use of a standard is like one who attempts to measure the distance between two points while allowing the tape measure to drape down loosely between those two points. Failure to pull the tape tight between the points will result in an inaccurate measurement. The one who has confidence in his measuring standard will use it responsibly. Interestingly, carpenters and fabricators will not long survive in their business if they are careless in their use of a measuring standard. Why is it that people are so careless in their handling of God’s standard given the eternal nature of the consequences?

God commands people to take his Scriptures literally, and to take a conservative (strict) approach to their interpretation and use. Jesus emphasized the strictness of the Scriptures when he announced that his fulfillment of Mosaic law would involve the fulfillment of every “jot” and “tittle” of the law (Matthew 5:18). A “jot” was a small letter, and a “tittle” was a small accent mark. Jesus’ mother told the servants “whatever he says to you, do it” (John 2:5). This is what we should do today. And we should do so without adding to or taking from God’s words (Rev. 22:18, 19; Galatians 1:8, 9). Let us handle the Scriptures correctly (2 Tim. 2:15). Let us refrain from handling them liberally and loosely.

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com. Visit www.parkwaychurchofchrist.com.